Superintendent

Dr. Henderson Lewis, Jr.

Superintendent of Schools

On March 18, 2015, Dr. Henderson Lewis Jr. began his tenure as one of New Orleans schools’ youngest superintendents ever. With over 20 years of educational experience as a teacher and administrator, Dr. Lewis brings a unique and very classroom focused perspective to the table. Over the last three years he has also led the OPSB towards a new era of unification, where for the first time in over a decade, on July 1, 2018 all formerly state overseen charter schools returned to local control under the oversight of the elected Orleans Parish School Board.

Before serving as superintendent in New Orleans, Dr. Lewis was a celebrated superintendent for East Feliciana Parish, which is just north of Baton Rouge. As a result of his four-year strategic plan and leadership, he raised the bar for classroom teaching and evaluation, and made significant gains among low-income students. As a result, East Feliciana Public Schools were recognized by the Louisiana Department of Education as 2nd in the state for elementary student academic growth.

For six years, Dr. Lewis served in a variety of roles for the Algiers Charter Schools Association, the first Charter Management Organization to open after Hurricane Katrina. He was their director of academics and instructional technology the assistant principal for Alice Harte Elementary Charter School, and founding principal of Algiers Technology Academy charter school.

He was also a teacher for seven years in St. Bernard Parish Public Schools. In addition to his service in schools, for eleven years Dr. Lewis has represented District 9 on the St. Bernard Parish Public School Board.